Tetra Technologies Inc (TTI) SEC Filing 10-K Annual report for the fiscal year ending Thursday, December 31, 2020

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ANNOUNCES

FULL YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER 2020 RESULTS

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, February 24, 2021 / PR Newswire / - TETRA Technologies, Inc. (“TETRA” or the “Company”) (NYSE:TTI) today announced full year and fourth quarter 2020 results, which are within the range of the preliminary results that were pre-announced on January 29, 2021.  On that same date, the Company announced the sale of the general partner, incentive distribution rights, and 10.95 million common units of CSI Compressco LP ("CSI Compressco") and 15 compressor units to Spartan Energy Partners, which generated over $30 million of cash proceeds to TETRA.  TETRA’s income statement reflects CSI Compressco as discontinued operations, and the assets and liabilities of CSI Compressco are reflected as assets and liabilities held for sale as of December 31, 2020.  TETRA continues to own 5.2 million of CSI Compressco common units, which are equal to approximately 11% of the total outstanding CSI Compressco common units, with a current market value of approximately $10.6 million. Net loss before discontinued operations for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $7.1 million inclusive of $3.4 million of non-recurring charges and expenses. Total year cash from operating activities was $77 million, compared to $90 million in 2019.

Brady Murphy, TETRA’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “I am pleased with our fourth quarter results and the way we finished out a very challenging 2020. We delivered positive Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow in every quarter of 2020 and successfully executed on our key strategies, including the deconsolidation of CSI Compressco.  Our employees and management team’s exceptional focus throughout the year on cost management resulted in an  increase in adjusted free cash flow from continuing operations of $81 million in 2020 relative to 2019 and higher adjusted EBITDA margins while continuing to deliver the service quality our customers require with continued emphasis on the health and safety of our employees and customers.  Year-on-year, we reduced operating cost (as it impacts Adjusted EBITDA) by 34% (or $168 million), greater than the 33% decline in revenue.  The fourth quarter sequential revenue growth of 46% in Water & Flowback Services Division is a continuance of multi-year market share gains achieved through the introduction of new technologies, digitizing our operations, and moving towards more integrated water management solutions.  TETRA’s BlueLinx^TM automated control system is enabling us to operate more efficiently and with less staff which produced sequential quarterly incremental Adjusted EBITDA margins of 37% (incremental Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of incremental revenue) for the Water Management and Flowback Division.  Aided by the benefit from our Standard Lithium agreement, Completions Fluids & Products Division achieved a 32.6% Adjusted EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter, a record high without the benefit of TETRA CS Neptune^® fluids activity.  Industrial chemical sales remained strong throughout the year with a record revenue year for our European business.  In the first quarter of 2021, we continue to see strong demand for our calcium chloride business driven from extreme weather as we prepare to enter our seasonally high second quarter period in our Europe operations.”  

“While many oilfield service companies reported EBITDA losses and negative free cash flow in 2020 in a global pandemic year with depressed oil and gas prices, TETRA generated $26 million of free cash flow from continuing operations without the benefit of monetizing working capital and improved Adjusted EBITDA margins by 150 basis points.  We believe this to be a strong accomplishment given the challenging market conditions.  As a result of the actions implemented during the year, net debt was reduced by $57 million, to $133 million as of December 31, 2020.  And as of February 18^, 2021, net debt has been further reduced to approximately $120 million.”  

“Heading into 2021 we have announced both the beginning, and the results, of numerous strategic actions initiated by management and our Board aimed at (a) simplifying TETRA’s capital structure and further focusing our business segments; (b) improving operating efficiencies; (c) reducing costs and (d) strengthening our balance sheet.  The impact of these initiatives are evident in TETRA’s fourth quarter and full year results.